Garbage can support



Dec. 21, 1965 R. A. MOTT 3,224,717

GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Raymond A. Maff INVENTOR.

Dec. 21, 1965 R. A. MOTT 3,224,717

GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

Raymond A. Muff 1N VENTOR United States Patent 3,224,717 GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT Raymond A. Mott, Soap Lake, Wash, assignor of fifty percent to John E. McNamara, Soap Lake, Wash. Filed Dec. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 327,291 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-147) The instant invention generally relates to garbage can supports, and more particularly relates to a support which, in addition to incorporating novel means for retaining the garbage can, also includes a lid for the garbage can which can be easily and conveniently raised either by hand or by foot.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a garbage can support which will safely and stably support a garbage can while maintaining the can in position for easy access thereto.

Another significant object of the instant invention is to provide a garbage can support upon which the can can be quickly and easily mounted and removed.

Further, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a garbage can support which holds the can vertically 01f of the ground so as to retain the can out of the reach of most animals and insects.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to incorporate into the garbage can support additional means for discouraging the tendency for various insects, such as ants, to accumulate about the can through the use of a special insecticide reservoir about the support post.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a support which will accommodate any conventional garbage can in either an upright or normal position, or in an inverted position such as might be desired for a drying of the can after it has been washed.

Likewise, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a support which is vertically adjustable so as to accommodate different size cans.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a garbage can support which, while highly novel in construction, is basically a relatively simple structure capable of being economically produced.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the garbage can support of the instant invention with a garbage can mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the support with portions broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the support with the lid being raised by the foot of a user;

FIGURE 4 is a partial elevational view with portions broken away so as to illustrate the manner in which a can is to be supported in an inverted position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 5-5 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial elevational view, with portions broken away, of the upper portion of the post illustrating the manner in which the latch is to be disengaged.

Referring now more specifically ot the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a garbage can support of the instant invention, this support 10 being adapted to support any conventional garbage can 12 including a planar upper edge 14 and a recessed bottom 16.

3,224,717 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 The support 10 consists basically of a vertical post 18 which may be either channel-shaped, as illustrated, or any other particular shape as may be deemed desirable such as for example tubular. The lower end of this post 18 is embedded within a concrete footing 20 which has the upper surface 22 thereof recessed, as indicated by reference numeral 24, about the post so as to form a reservoir for the reception of some insect repellent, such as for example oil, thereby eliminating any possibility of crawling insects gaining access to the garbage can.

The garbage can 12 is supported on the post 18 by an adjustable ledge 26 engageable with the lower end of the can 12, whether the can be upright as illustrated in FIG- URE 5 or inverted as illustrated in FIGURE 4, a flat semi-circular band 28 conforming to and receiving an intermediate portion of the cam 12, and a latch mechanism 30 engaged over the upper edge of the can 12.

The support ledge 26 includes a vertical flange 32 engageable flush against the front face of the post 18 and having a rearwardly projecting threaded stud 34 thereon which in turn projects through a vertically elongated slot 36 so as to provide for the aforementioned vertical adjustment of the ledge 26, the bolt means 38 being used to lock the ledge in any of its vertically adjusted positions, In addition, the ledge includes a horizontally projecting portion 40 upon which the lower edge of the can 12 rests, and a vertically extending lip 42 engaged with the adjoining inner portion of the lower edge of the can 12 so as to prevent outward movement of the lower end of the can.

The centrally located band 28 is rigidly afiixed to the post 18 at the center thereof through a spacer block 44 so as to position this band 28 snugly about the can 12 when mounted in the manner best illustrated in FIGURE 5. Incidentally, it will be noted that the extreme ends 46 of the band 28 are outwardly directed so as to not interfere with the mounting of the can 12.

The latch means 38 consists of an elongated latch bar 48 rotatably mounted adjacent its rear end on a transversely extending pin 50, the latch 48 extending forwardly from the pin 50 through a vertically elongated slot 52 in the forward face of the post 18 and a sufiicient distance therebeyond so as to engage over the upper edge 14 of a can 12, the latch 48 including a recess 54 in the lower edge thereof so as to form in effect a hook engageable with the edge 14. It will be appreciated that the upper and lower limits of the slot 52 also act as limits or stops for the latch 48. It is contemplated that this latch 48 be constantly biased downwardly into engagement with the upper edge 14, and as such, an elongated tension spring 56 is engaged with the latch 48 between the pin 50 and the slot 52, the lower end of the spring 56 being engaged with a hook 58 fixed to the post 18 below the latch 48.

In order to provide a closure for the can 12, a lid 60 is permanently mounted on the post 18 for movement between a horizontal position resting upon the upper edge of the can 12 and a generally vertical position so as to allow access to the can 12. This lid consists basically of a circular plate conforming to the top of the can 12 and including a depending lip 62 thereabout. With reference to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that the lid 60 is provided with a slot 64 so as to accommodate the inner end of the latch 48, this slot 64 receiving the latch 48 as the lid 60 is closed thus ensuring a positive engagement of the lid 60 with the upper edge 14 of the can 12.

The lid 60 is pivotally secured to the upper end of the post 18 by a structure 66 which additionally provides, in effect, a housing for the latch 48 and slot 64 so as to complete the enclosure. This housing 66 consists generally of an inverted elongated channel-shaped member rigidly affixed to the upper surface of the lid 60 and extending radially thereon and therebeyond, this housing 66 gradually increasing in height from its outer end toward the post-engaging end. The post-engaging end of the housing 66 includes two rearwardly extending ears 68, which are in effect continuations of the side walls of the inverted U- shaped member, these ears being orientated on opposite sides of the post 18 and rotatably mounted upon a transversely extending pin 70 which projects through the post 18 thus allowing for a vertical raising or rotating of the lid 60 away from the upper edge 14 of the can.

It is contemplated that this lid 60 be lifted through the use of either the hand or the foot, and as such, an elongated foot-actuated bar 72 is pivotally secured to the lower end of the post 18, this bar having a foot'receiving pedal or platform 74 at one end thereof with the other end of the bar 72 pivotally secured to the lower end of a vertically projecting rod 76 which is in turn telescopically received within an elongated tube 78, this tube 78 having a laterally projecting pin 80 at its upper end rotatably engaged within the housing 66 slightly forward of the forward face of the post 18. An adjustable stop or collar 82 is mounted on the rod 76 below the lower end of the tube 78 for engagement with the lower end of the tube 78 upon a vertical movement of the rod 76 effected by a downward pressure on the pedal portion 74 of the bar 72 whereby a raising of the lid 60 is effected. The stop 82 is specifically provided as adjustable in order that the degree of opening of the lid 60 might be varied. Further, it will be appreciated that inasmuch as the tube 78 is slidably received about the upper end of the rod 76, the lid 60 can be raised by hand without necessitating a movement of the foot bar 72 such as might be rendered impossible under certain circumstances such as heavy snowfalls which would bury the bar 72.

From the foregoing, it should be readily appreciated that a novel garbage can support has been defined, this garbage can support, in addition to incorporating means for specifically supporting the garbage can either in an upright position as illustrated in FIGURE or in an inverted position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, also incorporating novel means for effecting an effortless raising of the lid without using the hands. Incidentally, while FIGURE 6 illustrates a manual disengaging of the latch 48, it will of course be appreciated that this latch can be engaged and disengaged by merely a slight raising of the can 12 so as to clear the ledge lip 42 after which the lower portion of the can 12 can be swung outwardly and removed away from the latch 48, the downward movement of the latch 48 being limited by the lower edge of the slot 52.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A garbage can support including an elongated sup- .port post, means maintaining the post vertically, a support ledge fixed to the post at an intermediate point thereon, said ledge being adapted to receive the lower edge of a garbage can, a latch pivotally mounted on the post adjacent the upper end thereof, means biasing the latch downwardly for retaining engagement with the upper edge of a garbage can, a lid, means pivotally mounting the lid on the post above the latch for movement in a vertical plane, a pivotally mounted foot pedal, rod means interconnecting the foot pedal and the means pivotally mounting the lid so as to effect a raising of the lid upon a depression of the foot pedal, and means for fixedly positioning the support ledge at a plurality of vertically adjusted positions, said rod means being selectively extensible and retractible so as to vary the degree of opening of the lid, said lid being vertically movable independent of the foot pedal, said means maintaining the post vertical consisting of a concrete footing within which the lower end of the post is embedded, said footing including a recess in the upper surface thereof surrounding the post for the reception of insect repelling means, said lid being adapted to engage flush on the upper edge of a garbage can, said lid including a slot for accommodating the latch as the lid is closed, said means pivotally mounting the lid consisting of a hollow housing secured to the upper surface of the lid and extending radially thereon and therebeyond so as to enclose the slot and latch and to position its outer end juxtaposed to the post.

2. A garbage can support including an elongated support post, means maintaining the post vertically, a support ledge fixed to the post at an intermediate point thereon, said ledge being adapted to receive the lower edge of a garbage can, a latch pivotally mounted on the post adjacent the upper end thereof, means biasing the latch downwardly for retaining engagement with the upper edge of a garbage can, a lid, means pivotally mounting the lid on the post above the latch for movement in a vertical plane, a pivotally mounted foot pedal, rod means interconnecting the foot pedal and the means pivotally mounting the lid so as to effect a raising of the lid upon a depression of the foot pedal, said lid being adapted to engage flush on the upper edge of a garbage can, said lid including a slot for accommodating the latch as the lid is closed, said means pivotally mounting the lid consisting of a hollow housing secured to the upper surface of the lid and extending radially thereon and therebeyond so as to enclose the slot and latch and to position its outer end juxtaposed to the post.

3. A garbage can support including an elongated vertical support post, a support member fixed to said post at an intermediate point thereon, said member being adapted to receive the lower edge of a garbage can, a latch pivotally mounted on the post above the support member for selective retaining engagement with the upper edge of a garbage can, a lid, means pivotally mounting the lid on the post above the latch for movement in a vertical plane, said lid being adapted to engage flush on the upper edge of a supported and retained garbage can, said lid including a slot for accommodating the latch as the lid is closed, said means pivotally mounting the lid comprising a hollow housing secured to the upper surface of the lid and extending radially thereon and therebeyond so as to enclose the slot and latch and to position its outer end juxtaposed to the post.

4. The structure of claim 3 including a pivot-ally mounted foot pedal, and rod means interconnecting the foot pedal and lid so as to effect a raising of the lid upon a depressing of the foot pedal, said rod means comprising an upper hollow tube portion and a lower rod portion, said tube portion telescopically and slidably receiving said rod portion, and a stop fixed to said rod portion below said tube portion and freely engageable against the lower end of the tube portion, thereby allowing a raising of the lid and tube portion independently of the rod portion.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein said rod means comprises an upper hollow tube portion and a lower rod portion, said tube portion telescopically and slidably receiving said rod portion, and a stop fixed to said rod portion below said tube portion and freely engageable against the lower end of the tube portion, thereby allowing a raising of the lid and tube portion independently of the rod portion.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein the means maintaining the post vertical consists of a concrete footing within which the lower end of the post is embedded, said footing including a recess in the upper surface thereof surrounding the post for the reception of insect repelling means.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,671,627 3/ 1954 Slack 248147 UNITED STATES PATENTS ggi g fi 21171 ,3 1 8 is en 248147 8/1859 McElWee 312213X 2,929,512 3/1960 Mcgou le 211 71 gfr 313:3; 3,007,664 11/1961 Fairbanks et a1. 248126 H1932 Scrum; 248 147 3,065,858 11/1962 Furr 21184 2/1934 Sandberg 6161 24s-147 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 /1940 Packer 419,230 11/1934 Great Britain.

9/1941 Laige 248147 10/1950 Kjeldsen 211-75 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

3. A GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT INCLUDING AN ELONGATED VERTICAL SUPPORT POST, A SUPPORT MEMBER FIXED TO SAID POST AT AN INTERMEDIATE POINT THEREON, SAID MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE LOWER EDGE OF A GARBAGE CAN, A LATCH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE POST ABOVE THE SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SELECTIVE RETAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF A GARBAGE CAN, A LID, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE LID ON THE POST ABOVE THE LATCH FOR MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANE, SAID LID BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE FLUSH ON THE UPPER EDGE OF A SUPPORTED AND RETAINED GARBAGE CAN, SAID LID INCLUDING A SLOT FOR ACCOMMODATING THE LATCH AS THE LID IS CLOSED, SAID MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE LID COMPRISING A HOLLOW HOUSING SECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LID AND EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREON AND THEREBEYOND SO AS TO ENCLOSE THE SLOT AND LATCH AND TO POSITION ITS OUTER END JUXTAPOSED TO THE POST. 